Anti-theft method for detecting the unauthorized opening of containers and baggage

ABSTRACT

A simple trip-wire or magnetic circuit associated with a shipping container provides continuity, which is detected electrically. Simply, if continuity is disabled by a forced entry of the container, electrical detection means, such as a radio-frequency-identification (RFID) tag, will alert the owner or monitoring station. The trip-wire concept would require the replacing of a broken trip wire (resulting from forced entry), while the magnetic circuit concept can be reused repetitively. In a second embodiment a magnetic circuit and the detection device (RFID tag) are embedded into the shipping article during manufacturing. The preferred detection device, an RFID tag, could also be a battery backed transceiver type on which a replaceable or rechargeable battery could be mounted on the inside of the shipping container during manufacturing. The RFID tag would communicate with an interrogator unit, which could be connected to a host computer. The interrogator and/or the host computer and/or other alarm devices would then monitor the shipping container&#39;s status (opened or closed).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This applicationMore than one reissue application has been filed for thereissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,531, which reissue applications are theintial reissue application Ser. No. 12/038,473, filed Feb. 27, 2008, andthe present reissue continuation application Ser. No. 12/057,270, filedMar. 27, 2008, which is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/038,473, filed Feb. 27, 2008, which is a reissueof U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,531, granted from U.S. patent application Ser.No. 08/827,037 filed Mar. 25, 1997, which is a continuation ofapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/421,571 filed Apr.11, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,646,592, which is a continuationapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/151,599 filed Nov.12, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,263, which is a continuation-in-partof application Ser. No. 07/921,037 filed Jul. 27, 1992, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to anti-theft devices and in particularto a method for detecting unauthorized opening of containers andbaggage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Protecting personal property has become a major industry from a securitysystem standpoint. Security systems today can be as elaborate as thoseinstalled to protect banking institutions, equipped with video cameras,hooked-up as alarms to the local police station and security guards, orbe as simple as a car alarm that is sounded when the door is forcedopen.

Likewise, the shipping industry is faced with an increasingly growingsecurity problem in that containers, packages, baggage, luggage and mail(all of which may be referred to as simply “shipping container”hereinafter) are vulnerable to being opened by unauthorized personnel,who might steal the contents. As this problem increases it becomesnecessary to protect these articles in order to protect the customer'sproperty.

Due to the smaller size and larger quantity of the shipping articlesmentioned above, the protection system used must be compact forconcealment purposes, and somewhat simple in operation, thereby makingthem easy to produce and install in mass quantities while being fairlyeasy to monitor and operate.

The anti-theft method of the present invention conveniently addressesall of these issues to provide a workable and fairly inexpensivesolution to securing safe transportation of articles shipped in sometype of enclosed shipping container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention introduces a method for protecting against theunauthorized opening of shipping containers which is disclosed in theseveral embodiments following.

A first embodiment comprises a simple trip-wire or magnetic circuit thatprovides continuity, which is detected electrically. Simply, ifcontinuity is disabled by a forced entry of the container, electricaldetection means, such as a radio-frequency-identification (RFID)transceiver tag (or simply RFID tag), will alert the owner or monitoringstation. The trip-wire concept would require the replacing of a brokentrip wire (resulting from forced entry), while the magnetic circuitconcept can be reused repetitively.

A second embodiment comprises the magnetic circuit approach of the firstembodiment by having the magnetic circuit and the detection deviceembedded into the shipping article during manufacturing. The preferreddetection device, and RFID tag, could also be a battery backedtransceiver type on which a replaceable or rechargeable battery could bemounted on the inside of the shipping container during manufacturing.The RFID tag would communicate with an interrogator unit, which could beconnected to a host computer. The interrogator and/or the host computerwould then monitor the shipping container's status (opened or closed).The RPID tag could also have an output that changes state upon alarm, sothat another device could be connected to indicate the alarm via sound,flashing lights or other means.

Implementation of the present invention will become readilyunderstandable to one skilled in the art in the detailed descriptionsthat follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram showing the major processing stationsand fabrication stages used in an overall manufacturing process of anRFID tag;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an RFID tag as constructed inaccordance with the process flow of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A through 3E are cross sectional views of FIG. 2 showing themajor processing steps used to construct the RFID tag;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the major signal processingstages within the RFID integrated circuit chip described herein and alsowithin the interrogation unit used to interrogate the chip;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing the communication betweenseveral RFID tags and interrogation unit;

FIGS. 6, 6A and 6B depict a shipping container (luggage) on which afirst embodiment of the present invention has been installed; and

FIGS. 7, 7A and 7B depict a shipping container (luggage) on which asecond embodiment of the present invention has been installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, the process flow diagram shown in this figureincludes nine (9) major processing stations or fabrication stages whichare used in the overall manufacturing process steps that may be used tofabricate an RFID (radio frequency indentification) tag unit used in theanti-theft method of the present invention. These stages are describedin more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3A through 3E.Initially, a circuit pattern is formed on a polymer base material instation 10, whereafter the circuit pattern is cured and an epoxyconductive material is applied to station 12 before aligning anintegrated circuit chip onto the polymer base in station 14. Next,batteries (batteries added to the RFID package is optional) are alignedonto the polymer base in station 16 whereafter the epoxy is cured instation 18.

In the next step, the rear battery epoxy is applied in station 20 beforeadding a stiffener and then folding the polymer base over onto the topcover as indicated in station 22. The epoxy material is then cured instation 24 before providing a final sealing step in stage 26 to completethe package as described in more detail below.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an RFID tag is depicted that includes a basesupport member 30 upon which an integrated circuit chip 32 is disposedon the near end of the device and connected to a dipole antennaconsisting of metal strips 34 and 36 extending laterally from the chip32 and typically screen printed on the upper surface of the base supportmember 30.

A pair of rectangular shaped batteries 38 and 40 are positioned as shownadjacent to the IC chip 32 and are also disposed on the upper surface ofthe base support member 30. The two rectangular batteries 38 and 40 areelectrically connected in series to power the IC chip 32 in a mannermore particularly described below. The device or package shown in FIG. 2is then completed by the addition of an outer or upper cover member 42which is sealed to the exposed edge surface portions of the base member30 to thereby provide an hermetically sealed and completed package. Theintegrated chip 32 has transmitter, memory, logic, and receiver stagestherein and is powered by the two batteries 38 and 40 during thetransmission and reception of data to and from an interrogator toprovide the interrogator with the various above identified informationparameters concerning the article or person to which the RFID tag 30 isattached. The integrated chip may be designed to contain the neededcircuitry one skilled in the art needs to accomplish the desired taskand therefore may or may not contain all the circuitry listed above.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, there is shown a plan view of the geometry ofthe base support member 30 and the cover member 42 which, during theinitial manufacturing stage, are joined at an intersecting line 44. Thedipole antenna strips 34 and 36 shown positioned on each side of the ICchip 32, and the two conductive strips 46 and 48 serve to connect thetops of the batteries 38 and 40 into the IC chip 32. A conductive strip50 is provided on the upwardly facing inside surface of the top cover42, so that when the cover 42 is folded by 180° C., its outer boundary52 is ready to be sealed with the outer boundary 54 of the base supportmember 30, and simultaneously the conductive strip 50 completes theseries electrical connection used to connect the two batteries 38 and 40in series with each other and further in the series circuit with theintegrated circuit chip 32 through the two conductors 46 and 48.

Referring now to FIGS. 3B through 3E, FIG. 3B shows in cross section theIC chip 32 bonded to the base support member 30 by means of a spotbutton of conductive epoxy material 56. The conductive strip 48 is shownin cross section on the upper surface of the base support member 30.This figure would correspond generally to the fabrication stations 10,12, and 14 in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 3C, the battery 40 is aligned in place asindicated earlier in FIG. 2 and has the right hand end thereof connectedto the upper surface of the conductive strip 48. FIG. 3 would thereforecorrespond to stations 16 and 18 in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 3D, a stiffener material 58 is applied as shownover the upper and side surfaces of the IC chip 32, to provide a desireddegree of stiffness to the package as completed. FIG. 3D would thereforecorrespond to stations 20 and 22 in FIG. 1.

Next, a conductive epoxy is applied to the upper surfaces of the twobatteries 38 and 40, and then the polymer base material 30 with thebatteries thereon are folded over onto the cover member 42 to thuscomplete and seal the package in the configuration shown in FIG. 3E andcorresponding to the remaining stations 24 and 26 in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the rectangular outer boundary 159 in thisfigure defines the active area on the integrated circuit chip in whichthe integrated circuit transceiver has been formed using state of theart MOS planar processing techniques. These MOS planar processingtechniques are well known in the art and are, therefore, not describedin detail herein. Within the chip active area there is provided an RFreceiver stage 160 which is connected to an antenna 161 and via one ormore lines or circuit connections 162, to a control logic stage 164. Thecontrol logic stage 164 is in turn connected via one or more integratedcircuit connections or lines 166 to a memory stage 168. The controllogic stage 164 is further connected via a line 170 to a transmitterstage 174, and the memory stage 168 is also connected via line 172 tothe trasmitter stage 174. The memory stage 168 is operative to provideinput data to the transmitter stage 174 upon request, and functions in amanner operationally described in the example given below.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a method of communicationbetween several RFID tags and an interrogation unit in light of theanti-theft detection units later described in FIGS. 6 and 7. Referringnow to FIG. 5, Host/CPU 51 interacts with interrogator/transceiver unit52 and instructs unit 52 to interrogate RFID tags A (53) and B (54) foralarm data. If interrogator 52 receives no reply from either tag A ortag B the host 51 continues to instruct unit 52 to interrogate tags Aand B as often as internal software demands it. However, if tag Aresponds (in an alarm state) the interrogator unit 52 communicates thatinformation to the host 51 and an appropriate alarm is sounded to notifypersonnel that unauthorized opening of a container has just taken place.

By using the communication approach taken in FIG. 5, a first embodimentof an “unauthorized opening detection device” is shown in FIG. 6 withvariations of this embodiment shown in expanded views of FIG. 6presented in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

Referring now FIG. 6, shipping container 60 (luggage in this case) isadorned with an “unauthorized opening detection unit” enclosed byoutlined dashed circle 62. Expanded view 6A of dashed circle 62 shows acontinuous wire 63 attached to both sides of container 60 at a firstconnection node 64, then to second connection node 65, continuing toRFID tag 67 (which is affixed to label 66) onto which wire 63 isattached. Wire 63 then completes its continuity path by attaching tag 67to starting point node 64. If continuity is disrupted (wire 63 breaks byunauthorized opening of container 20) tag 67 would then signal theinterrogator or some other device to sound an alarm and alert the owneror possibly security personnel in case of airline luggagetransportation. Disarming the detection unit may be done by command fromthe interrogator or by the software at a given site, say at thecontainer's destination, which may simply ignore the “opened” signal.

Expanded view of FIG. 6B shows a second means of installing a detectiondevice wherein continuous wire 63 attaches to a first connection node64, continues to a second connection node 65, routes to RFID tag 67(which is affixed to label 66) and routes back to node 65 and finally tonode 64.

Both attaching methods serve as examples of how the opening detectionunit may be attached to containers or doors that open. It would bepreferred to have the wire attached so that it is not easily detected bycasual observance and not easily broken by accident. Tag 67 could beaffixed to label 66 with tag 67 itself being adhered to a self-adhesivepaper, such as stamp, and then applied to the label.

A second embodiment of an “unauthorized opening detection device” isshown in FIG. 7 with this embodiment shown in expanded views 7A and 2B.

Referring now to FIG. 7, shipping container 70 (luggage in this case) isadorned with an “unauthorized opening detection unit” enclosed byoutlined dashed circles 71 and 72. In expanded view 7A of dashed circle71, in the edge of container 70 a magnetic contact 73 is embedded. Thismagnetic contact 73 is preferably located in close proximity to a latchof container 70, or magnetic contact 73 may also function as half thelatching mechanism to the container. In expanded view 7B of dashedcircle 72, an RFID tag 78 is affixed to the top face of container 70.Electrical connections 74 extend from RFID tag 70 and attached tomagnetic contacts 75 and 76. Magnetic contacts 75 and 76 may alsofunction as the other half of the latching mechanism to the container.When container 70 is closed, contacts 75 and 76 mate with contact 73,thereby completing an electrical circuit. Unless disabled by the owner,should the container be forced open and continuity between contacts 73,75 and 76 be disrupted, an alarm state bit is set in (in the alarmflagging circuitry) tag 78 which will signal the interrogator or othercontrolling device to sound an alarm to alert the owner or securitypersonnel. Tag 78 will remain in an alarm state until the alarm statebit is reset by the interrogator/controlling unit.

The detection device of FIG. 7A could be further enhanced by providing areplaceable battery 79, a power enabling means, for powering tag 78. Itwould be logical to have the battery only accessible from the inside ofcontainer 70 which would mean tag 78 would need to be embedded intocontainer 70 and preferably embedded during the manufacturing ofcontainer 70. With a replaceable battery powered tag, tag 78 would nowhave the capability to send an alert signal to an interrogator unit orother device (such as a computer controlled transceiver unit) whichwould monitor the status of container 70 over its entire lifetime.

The methods of the embodiments discussed above, can easily beimplemented into security systems. For example, by attaching the RFIDtag and continuity completing circuitry to span between an entry/exitdoor and the framework supporting the door, unauthorized entry can nowbe monitored by activating the system when the door is to remain closed.Other such security schemes could also use the monitoring methods of thepresent invention.

It is to be understood that although the present invention has beendescribed in several embodiments, various modifications known to thoseskilled in the art, such as applying these techniques to any kind ofcontainers (mail, freight, etc.) or by various methods of attaching thedetection device to the container, may be made without departing fromthe invention as recited in the several claims appended hereto.

1. For an apparatus having an aperture capable of being closed andopened by moving first and second closure members together and apart,respectively, an improved security device for signalling whether theaperture is opened, comprising: (a) an elongated electrical conductorhaving first and second ends, the conductor extending between the twoclosure members and being attached to both the first closure member andthe second closure member so that the two closure members cannot bemoved apart more than a predetermined amount to open the aperturewithout breaking the conductor; and (b) an RFID transceiver, connectedto the two ends of the conductor, including an electrical circuit fordetecting when electrical continuity between the two ends of theconductor is broken and subsequently transmitting a radio frequencyalarm signal.
 2. A security device according to claim 1, wherein saidapparatus is a container and the first and second closure members areexternal walls of the container.
 3. A security device according to claim2, wherein the RFID transceiver is embedded within a wall of thecontainer.
 4. A security device according to claim 1, wherein saidapparatus is a suitcase and the first and second closure members areexternal walls of the suitcase.
 5. For an apparatus having an aperturecapable of being closed and opened by moving first and second closuremembers together and apart, respectively, an improved security devicefor signalling whether the aperture is opened, comprising: (a) anelectrical device, mounted on the apparatus adjacent the aperture, fordetecting whether the aperture is open or closed; and (b) an RFIDtransceiver which transmits a radio frequency alarm signal after saiddevice detects the aperture has been opened.
 6. A security deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein the electrical device includes a magnet.7. A security device according to claim 5, wherein the electrical deviceincludes an elongated electrical conductor having first and second ends,the conductor extending between the two closure members and beingattached to both the first closure member and the second closure memberso that the two closure members cannot be moved apart a substantialamount to open the aperture without breaking the conductor.
 8. Asecurity device according to claim 5, wherein said apparatus is acontainer and the first and second closure members are external walls ofthe container.
 9. A security device according to claim 8, wherein theRFID transceiver is embedded within a wall of the container.
 10. Asecurity device according to claim 5, wherein said apparatus is asuitcase and the first and second closure members are external walls ofthe suitcase.
 11. For an apparatus having an aperture which isselectably closed and opened by moving first and second closure memberstogether and apart, respectively, an improved security device forsignalling whether the aperture is opened, comprising: (a) an electricaldevice, mounted on the apparatus adjacent the aperture, for detectingwhether the aperture is open or closed, wherein the electrical deviceincludes: (i) first and second electrical contacts mounted on the firstclosure member, and (ii) a third electrical contact mounted on thesecond closure member at a position such that, when the two closuremembers are moved together so as to close the aperture, the thirdelectrical contact mates with both the first and the second contacts soas to complete an electrical continuity between the first and secondcontacts; and (b) an RFID transceiver which transmits a radio frequencyalarm signal in response to said electrical continuity being broken. 12.A secure apparatus for signalling whether an aperture of the apparatusis opened, comprising: an apparatus having first and second closuremembers and having an aperture capable of being closed and opened bymoving the two closure members together and apart, respectively; anelectrical device, mounted on the apparatus adjacent the aperture, fordetecting whether the aperture is opened; and an RFID transceiver whichtransmits an alarm signal after said device detects the aperture hasbeen opened.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the electricaldevice includes an elongated electrical conductor having first andsecond ends, the conductor extending between the two closure members andbeing attached to both the first closure member and the second closuremember so that the two closure members cannot be moved apart more than apredetermined amount to open the aperture without breaking theconductor.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: ahinge mounted on a first end of each closure member; wherein theconductor extends between the two closure members at a second end ofeach closure member opposite the hinge.
 15. Apparatus according to claim14, further comprising: a handle mounted on the second end of one of theclosure members; and a strap encircling the handle; wherein the RFIDtransceiver is mounted on the strap.
 16. Apparatus according to claim12, wherein: the electrical device includes first and second electricalcontacts mounted on the first closure member, and a third electricalcontact mounted on the second closure member at a position such that,when the two closure members are moved together so as to close theaperture, the third contact mates with both the first and secondcontacts so as to complete an electrical continuity between the firstand second contacts; and the RFID transceiver transmits said radiofrequency alarm signal in response to said electrical continuity beingbroken.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the first, secondand third electrical contacts respectively comprise first, second andthird magnetic contacts.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 12, whereinthe electrical device includes a magnetic device.
 19. Apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein said apparatus is a container and thefirst and second closure members are external walls of the container.20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the RFID transceiver isembedded within a wall of the container.
 21. Apparatus according toclaim 12, wherein: said apparatus is a suitcase; and the first andsecond closure members are external walls of the suitcase.
 22. Apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein: said apparatus is a doorway; the firstclosure member is a door frame; and the second closure member is a door.23. A method for signalling whether an aperture is opened, comprisingthe steps of: providing an apparatus having first and second closuremembers and having an aperture capable of being closed and opened bymoving the first and second closure members together and apart,respectively; detecting whether the aperture is opened; and in responseto detecting that the aperture is opened, transmitting a radio frequencyalarm signal.
 24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the detectingstep comprises: mounting adjacent the aperture an electrical detectingdevice having an electrical condition responsive to whether the apertureis opened; and detecting whether the aperture is opened by detecting theelectrical condition of the detecting device.
 25. A method according toclaim 24, wherein: the step of mounting an electrical detecting devicecomprises extending between the two closure members an elongatedelectrical conductor having first and second ends, and attaching theconductor to both the first closure member and the second closure memberso that the two closure members cannot be moved apart more than apredetermined amount to open the aperture without breaking theconductor; and the step of detecting whether the aperture is openedcomprises detecting whether electrical continuity between the two endsof the conductor is broken.
 26. A method according to claim 24, whereinthe step of mounting an electrical detecting device comprises mounting amagnet adjacent the aperture.
 27. A method according to claim 23,wherein the providing step comprises: providing a container having firstand second external walls, wherein said apparatus is the container andsaid first and second closure members are the first and second externalwalls of the container, respectively.
 28. A method according to claim27, further comprising the step of: embedding an RFID transceiver withina wall of the container; wherein the transmitting step comprises theRFID transceiver transmitting the radio frequency alarm signal.
 29. Amethod according to claim 28, further comprising the steps of: mountinga replaceable battery within the container so as to be accessible onlyfrom the interior of the container; and connecting the battery to theRFID transceiver.
 30. A method according to claim 27, wherein the stepof providing a container comprises: providing a suitcase as saidcontainer.
 31. A method according to claim 23, wherein the transmittingstep further comprises: receiving radio frequency interrogation signals;and transmitting said radio frequency alarm signal only after receivinga radio frequency interrogation signal subsequent to said detecting thatthe aperture is opened.
 32. A method for signalling whether an apertureis opened, comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus having firstand second closure members including at least a door, and having anaperture capable of being closed and opened by moving the first andsecond closure members together and apart to close and open the door,respectively; after the door is closed, attaching an electricaldetection device to the door, the detection device having an RFID devicemounted via adhesive and having a wire arranged to form a circuit whichis to be irreversibly disrupted if the door is opened, the RFID deviceto store information identifying the apparatus; detecting whether theaperture is opened, based on whether the circuit is disrupted, using theRFID device; interrogating a plurality of RFID transceiver tags for analarm status using an interrogator unit that communicates with the RFIDtransceiver tags wirelessly via radio frequency interrogation signals;and in response to detecting that the aperture is opened, transmittingthe stored information identifying the apparatus in response to theradio frequency interrogation signals and transmitting a radio frequencyalarm signal from the RFID transceiver tags to the interrogator unit ifthe aperture is detected to have been opened.
 33. A method according toclaim 32, wherein the wire is arranged across the closure members.
 34. Amethod according to claim 32, further comprising communicating the alarmstatus to a host computer coupled to the interrogator if theinterrogator receives the alarm signal from the RFID device.
 35. Amethod according to claim 34, wherein the interrogator interrogates theRFID device in accordance with software running on the host computercoupled to the interrogator.
 36. A method according to claim 32, furthercomprising continually interrogating the RFID device using aninterrogator to continually monitor for an alarm.
 37. A method accordingto claim 32, wherein detecting whether the aperture is opened compriseselectrically detecting continuity between two electrical contacts.
 38. Amethod according to claim 32, further comprising monitoring a status ofthe aperture as being either opened or closed via a host computer.
 39. Amethod according to claim 32, wherein the apparatus comprises a shippingcontainer.
 40. A method according to claim 32, wherein the RFID deviceis hermetically sealed.
 41. A secure container system for signallingwhether an aperture of the apparatus is opened, comprising: a containerhaving first and second closure members and having an aperture capableof being closed and opened by moving the two closure members togetherand apart, respectively; an electrical detection device, mounted on theapparatus adjacent the aperture, for detecting whether the aperture isopened, the electrical detection device comprises an RFID transceivertag and an electrical circuit, the electrical circuit to be irreversiblydisrupted when the aperture is opened to access interior of thecontainer, the RFID transceiver tag sealed inside a package and attachedto the container via adhesive, the RFID transceiver tag having anantenna and having memory to store identification information of theRFID transceiver tag and having a circuit to receive and transmit radiofrequency signals via the antenna; and an interrogator wirelesslycoupled with the RFID transceiver tag via radio frequency signals,wherein in response to a command from the interrogator the RFIDtransceiver tag transmits the identification information of the RFIDtransceiver tag to the interrogator and transmits an alarm signal to theRFID interrogator after the electrical circuit detects the aperture hasbeen opened.
 42. A secure container system according to claim 41,wherein the electrical circuit extends between the closure members. 43.A secure container system according to claim 41, wherein the electricaldetection device is powered by a battery.
 44. A secure container systemaccording claim 41, further comprising a host computer coupled to theinterrogator to receive the alarm signal.
 45. A secure container systemaccording to claim 44, wherein the interrogator interrogates the RFIDdevice in accordance with software running on the host computer coupledto the interrogator.
 46. A secure container system according to claim41, wherein the interrogator continually interrogates the RFID device tocontinually monitor for an alarm.
 47. A secure container systemaccording to claim 41, wherein the RFID transceiver tag electricallydetects continuity between two electrical contacts to detect whether theaperture is opened.
 48. For a secure container having an aperturecapable of being closed and opened by moving first and second closuremembers together and apart, respectively, an improved security devicefor signalling whether the aperture is opened, comprising: (a) anelectrical device, mounted on the apparatus adjacent the aperture, fordetecting whether the aperture is open or closed, the electrical devicecomprising a circuit to be irreversibly disrupted when the aperture isopened to access interior of the secure container; and (b) an RFIDtransceiver tag sealed inside a package and attached to the securecontainer via adhesive, the RFID transceiver tag coupled to theelectrical device to determine whether the circuit is disrupted, theRFID transceiver tag having an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip and anantenna, the IC chip having memory to store identification informationof the RFID transceiver tag and having a circuit to receive and transmitradio frequency signals via the antenna, wherein when an interrogationcommand is received via the antenna, the RFID transceiver tag transmitsthe identification information of the RFID transceiver tag and transmitsa radio frequency alarm after the electrical device detects the aperturehas been opened.
 49. A security device according to claim 48, whereinthe circuit spans the closure members.
 50. A security device accordingto claim 49, wherein the electrical detection device is powered by abattery.
 51. A security device according to claim 50, wherein the RFIDtransceiver tag electrically detects continuity of the circuit to detectwhether the aperture is opened.